There was good cause to sit Gonzalez. Since a 10-game hit streak to start the season during which he hit .375, Gonzalez has gone 6-for-39 (.154) over the last 10 games entering Wednesday. And it's hard not to note that the slump began with an 0-for-4 against the Giants, including three hitless at-bats vs. Matt Cain, who happened to start against the Rockies on Wednesday. Gonzalez entered the day 4-for-44 against Cain. Then there's the left knee tendinitis that flared up Sunday.

Weiss has admitted in the past that he has put Gonzalez in the lineup against Cain, thinking he was due. But with the Rockies also off Thursday, giving a slumping star a chance at two days off won out.

Weiss said before Wednesday's game that if the game were tight and the Rockies need a big pinch-hit at-bat, he would turn to Gonzalez. He did just that in the 10th inning of an eventual 12-10 loss, sending Gonzalez to pinch-hit leading off the frame. He flied out off Giants lefty Javier Lopez.

"He's in play to try to help us win a game late," Weiss said. "It's a nice weapon to have sitting over there late in the game, especially the way the Giants like to match up with their bullpen and how good they are at it."